Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- When Chris Christie praises President Barack Obama as `` outstanding '' and `` incredibly supportive , '' you know something extraordinary has occurred .

Obama updated on Sandy ; praised by Christie

In this case , it was once-in-a-lifetime Superstorm Sandy , which caused the outspoken Republican governor of New Jersey to declare a state of emergency and seek federal help for widespread devastation .

Interviewed Tuesday on NBC , Christie described Obama 's response as `` outstanding , '' and he told CNN that the president had been `` incredibly supportive and helpful to our state . ''

`` This is much more important than any election , '' Christie told CNN 's `` Piers Morgan Tonight . ''

Obama has `` been outstanding to deal with on this and I look forward to seeing him tomorrow so he can see for himself what this hurricane has done to my state , '' Christie said Tuesday night .

Such effusive praise from a frequent Obama critic and strong supporter of Republican presidential challenger Mitt Romney put the campaign magnifying glass on a key election issue -- the role of the federal government -- a week before the November 6 vote .

Photos : Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy

It also focused attention on how Romney would handle such a disaster if he were to defeat Obama in what is expected to be a very close election .

On Tuesday , the GOP candidate showed little inclination to address the matter . At a campaign event changed to a storm relief effort in Ohio , Romney ignored shouted questions by reporters on whether he supported the Federal Emergency Management Agency 's role in disaster relief .

Instead , he focused his remarks to supporters who donated relief supplies for storm victims on how such efforts contribute to meeting the overall need .

`` We wo n't be able to solve all the problems with our effort this morning , '' Romney said , adding `` one of the things you learn in life is you make the difference you can , and you ca n't always solve all the problems yourself . ''

Romney on storm aftermath : ` People are hurting '

Democratic critics of Romney and his running mate -- conservative House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin -- argue their proposals to cut government spending and provide broad tax cuts without generating more government revenue will end up harming the economy and increasing the federal deficit .

Photos : New York recovers from Sandy

In particular , the Obama campaign challenges Romney 's contention that increased economic growth from the tax cuts combined with shifting current federal responsibilities to states , the private sector and humanitarian agencies and charities can balance the budget .

Last year , Romney argued at a Republican presidential debate in New Hampshire that cutting federal spending should be based on prioritizing what is absolutely necessary and shedding the rest .

Asked by moderator John King of CNN if disaster relief efforts should be turned over to states , Romney said that `` every time you have an occasion to take something from the federal government and send it back to the states , that 's the right direction . And if you can go even further and send it back to the private sector , that 's even better . ''

`` Instead of thinking in the federal budget , what we should cut -- we should ask ourselves the opposite question . What should we keep ? '' Romney added . `` We should take all of what we 're doing at the federal level and say , what are the things we 're doing that we do n't have to do ? And those things we 've got to stop doing , because we 're borrowing $ 1.6 trillion more this year than we 're taking in . ''

King cut in to ask if Romney was referring specifically to disaster relief , a topic in the news at the time following a deadly Joplin , Missouri , tornado , and Romney continued : `` We can not afford to do those things without jeopardizing the future for our kids . It is simply immoral , in my view , for us to continue to rack up larger and larger debts and pass them on to our kids , knowing full well that we 'll all be dead and gone before it 's paid off . It makes no sense at all . ''

Romney : States should handle emergency management

With then-Hurricane Sandy bearing down on the East Coast on Monday , Romney 's debate comments from 16 months earlier became a topic of political discussion , and the Romney campaign issued a statement in response .

Sandy reminds us of climate change and other forgotten campaign issues

`` Gov. Romney believes that states should be in charge of emergency management in responding to storms and other natural disasters in their jurisdictions , '' said the statement by spokeswoman Amanda Henneberg . `` As the first responders , states are in the best position to aid affected individuals and communities , and to direct resources and assistance to where they are needed most . This includes help from the federal government and FEMA . ''

Henneberg added another sentence to the statement Tuesday , saying that `` a Romney-Ryan administration will always ensure that disaster funding is there for those in need . Period . ''

Opinion : Sandy shows why we need FEMA

Craig Fugate , administrator of the emergency management agency , told reporters Tuesday that the agency had $ 3.6 billion remaining in its disaster relief fund . The agency works with state and local authorities as well as the American Red Cross and other agencies to help disaster victims rent temporary housing , repair their homes , get loans to cover small business and farm losses , as well as assisting in cleaning up storm debris including hazardous materials .

Vice President Joe Biden , meanwhile , said Tuesday that the federal response to Sandy was `` working like it 's supposed to , '' and he highlighted to reporters in Ohio what he described as unprecedented cooperation between city , state and federal authorities and agencies .

A White House statement also emphasized such cooperation , noting Obama spoke by phone with a host of Republican and Democratic governors and mayors from states affected by the storm .

Sandy 's impact : State by state

Romney has made political dysfunction in Washington a target of his campaign , blaming Obama for what he calls failed leadership in being unable to forge a deficit reduction deal with Republicans .

Democrats blame Republicans for what they contend has been an unwillingness to compromise , and the focus on cooperation Tuesday by Obama and Biden appeared to be aimed in part at demonstrating the administration 's ability to get things done .

The question of the size and scope of the federal government is at the heart of both campaigns .

Obama and Democrats argue that entitlement programs such as Social Security , Medicare and Medicaid are vital to the social contract to provide contributing citizens with basic needs , and that government also has a role to play in education and technological development while providing services such as national defense and disaster relief .

Opinion : Sandy debunks ` nanny state '

Republicans , driven by the party 's conservative wing , call for immediate steps to erase the chronic budget deficits and mounting federal debt that they say imperil national security and stability . They want to shrink the size of government and reduce taxes while reforming entitlements by partial privatization , reducing and delaying some benefits and other steps .

Sensitive issues such as disaster relief generally play to the advantage of Democrats and their support for government benefits , especially in a time of crisis when images of suffering victims dominate the airwaves .

Superstorm Sandy breaks records

Obama has avoided any direct political talk in recent days as the huge storm approached the Eastern seaboard , canceling campaign events and focusing his attention on the administration 's response . In statements Monday and Tuesday on the storm and its aftermath , he emphasized the need for a collective response while also making sure to point out the federal role in relief efforts .

`` We 've been able to get over 1,000 FEMA officials in place , pre-positioned , '' the president said . `` We 've been able to get supplies , food , medicine , water , emergency generators , to ensure that hospitals and law enforcement offices are able to stay up and running as they are out there responding . ''

He also sounded a main campaign theme by ensuring those hit hardest by the storm that his administration and the entire nation were with them .

`` This is a tough time for millions of folks across the Eastern seaboard , but America is tougher and we are tougher because we pull together , we do n't leave anybody behind , we make sure that we respond as a nation , '' Obama said .

Obama visits Red Cross : ` Storm is not yet over '

At about the same time he spoke , the White House announced that Obama will travel to New Jersey on Wednesday `` where he will join Gov. Christie in viewing the storm damage , talking with citizens who are recovering from the storm and thanking first responders who put their lives at risk to protect their communities . ''

While the president and one of Romney 's top supporters will be photographed together responding to disaster , Romney is scheduled to be in Florida for three campaign events .

How to help after the superstorm

CNN 's Rachel Streitfeld , Kevin Liptak , Tom Watkins and Mike M. Ahlers contributed to this report .

@highlight

Mitt Romney surrogate Chris Christie praises President Barack Obama 's response to Sandy

@highlight

The superstorm focuses attention on the role of government in disaster relief

@highlight

Romney advocates a state-led approach , but his campaign promises enough funding

@highlight

Obama emphasizes federal , state and local cooperation